Little Adventures Nursery (Taunton)

Inspection of Little Adventures Nursery (Taunton) Space Adventures, 32-34 Frobisher Way, Taunton TA2 6BB

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Overall effectiveness Good

The quality of education Good Behaviour and attitudes Good Personal development Good Leadership and management Good Overall effectiveness at previous inspection Not applicable

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The provision is good

Children happily enter a welcoming nursery and develop strong bonds with familiar adults. Children enjoy a broad and balanced range of experiences that complement their interests and support them to make progress in all areas of their learning. For example, toddlers thoroughly enjoy using their senses to explore thick, colourful gloop. They push the plastic boats through the mixture to make pathways. They communicate their ideas well with staff, who respond and engage in their play successfully. Children show curiosity as they discover how to make the boat's horn blow. They confidently add resources to their play, such as plastic animals to pilot the boats.

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The provision is good

Older children are well prepared for school. They engage well in activities such as making dough. Children listen carefully to instructions and confidently ask each other questions to explore new ideas. Staff facilitate learning well, ensuring there is a wide range of resources for children to explore. This means all children are actively involved in their learning. Staff encourage children to recall their previous learning and build on their knowledge. For example, they recall what ingredients they need to make the dough and can identify what to add to change the consistency of the dough if it is too wet.

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need to do better?

n The management team has a good overview of the curriculum and ensures children's progress is effectively monitored. It ensures staff receive training, guidance and support to raise the quality of their teaching and to successfully implement the well-constructed curriculum. n The special educational needs coordinator (SENCo) has good knowledge of those children who need additional support. He works closely with other agencies, parents and children's key people to develop precise action plans to reduce gaps in children's learning and provide effective support. n Staff focus well on supporting children to develop good communication and language skills. Children engage well in stories, for example repeating familiar phrases as they retell the story of 'Stick Man'. Staff use the props well to engage children fully. Babies thoroughly enjoy choosing favourite books to share with staff. They turn pages together and stroke the different textures on the kitten,

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need to do better?

while staff introduce new vocabulary for children to repeat. However, staff working with the youngest children do not always create an environment which supports good listening, such as during 'sing and sign'. n Children behave well and are kind to each other. Staff use some strategies well to manage children's behaviour. For example, during a focused activity, staff reposition themselves and distract children when minor disputes arise. Staff help children recognise how they feel and how their behaviour affects their friends.

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need to do better?

13 December 2022 However, staff do not always adapt strategies to enable those children who are learning to speak English as an additional language to understand behavioural expectations and to engage in daily routines successfully. n Daily routines and care practices help children to gain good understanding of how to keep themselves healthy and safe. Toddlers know that when they drop food on the floor, they do not eat it. Older children test various methods to clean their hands after playing in the dough. They investigate brushing their hands together and wiping them with a tissue before settling on washing them with water and soap. n There are highly effective key-person systems, which parents greatly appreciate. When young children are tired, they reach for their key person, who gives them cuddles and reassurance. Staff use successful arrangements to ensure children settle quickly as they move between rooms. There are frequent opportunities for

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need to do better?

children to mix and play together in the soft play. Children moving on to a new room make bonds with all staff, and staff respect children's choices when they decide who will be their new key person. n Leaders and managers have a clear and ambitious vision. The strong management team understands what works well and what needs to improve at this newly opened nursery. Its members provide effective support to empower a stable staff team to make these improvements together. They frequently encourage parents to provide feedback on the service they provide. They identify improvements and take prompt action to improve children's experiences. For example, following slight concerns about a repetitive menu, the provider has employed a chef who has amended the menu. The chef provides children with varied and nutritious meals that meet their individual dietary requirements successfully.

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Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective.

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Safeguarding

The management team ensures that staff understand and implement effective policies and procedures. It regularly reviews risk assessments and adapts practice to ensure that children are safe. For example, the management team has ensured that all staff understand the collection procedure and fire safety. There are efficient recruitment and induction arrangements to ensure staff are suitable for their role. All staff attend safeguarding training and have good knowledge of the potential signs that a child is at risk of harm. The designated safeguarding lead (DSL) has good understanding of her responsibilities to report any concerns about a child or a member of staff to the appropriate agencies.

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should:

13 December 2022 n develop further staff's knowledge of strategies to support all children, including those learning to speak English as an additional language, to understand behavioural expectations and daily routines n review the learning environment for the youngest children during singing activities to ensure it encourages good listening and attention.

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Setting details

Unique reference number 2660796 Local authority Somerset Inspection number 10262684 Type of provision Childcare on non-domestic premises

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Registers

Early Years Register, Compulsory Childcare Register, Voluntary Childcare Register Day care type Full day care

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inspection

Total number of places 46 Number of children on roll 62 Name of registered person Ocean Adventurers Ltd

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reference number

Telephone number 01823 351663 Date of previous inspection Not applicable

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Information about this early years setting

Little Adventures Nursery (Taunton) registered in 2022. It operates from a separate accommodation within a soft play centre in Taunton, Somerset. The nursery opens daily, from 7.30am until 6pm, throughout the year. The nursery receives funding for free early education for children aged two, three and four years. The nursery employs nine staff to work directly with the children, of whom seven have early years qualifications at level 3 or above.

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Inspection activities

n This was the first routine inspection the provider received since the COVID-19 pandemic began. The inspector discussed the impact of the pandemic with the provider and has taken that into account in their evaluation of the provider. n The manager took the inspector on a learning walk and talked to the inspector about the curriculum and what they want children to learn. n The manager and the inspector conducted two joint observations with babies and pre-school children. n The inspector held discussions with the leadership and management team, DSL, SENCo, staff, parents and children at convenient times during the inspection. n The inspector sampled a range of required documentation, including staff suitability checks.

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Inspection activities

We carried out this inspection under sections 49 and 50 of the Childcare Act 2006 on the quality and standards of provision that is registered on the Early Years Register. The registered person must ensure that this provision complies with the statutory framework for children's learning, development and care, known as the early years foundation stage.

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Inspection activities

13 December 2022 regulates and inspects to achieve excellence in the care of children and young people, and in education and skills for learners of all ages. It regulates and inspects childcare and children's social care, and inspects the Children and Family Court Advisory and Support Service (Cafcass), schools, colleges, initial teacher training, further education and skills, adult and community learning, and education and training in prisons and other secure establishments. It assesses council children's services, and inspects services for looked after children, safeguarding and child protection.

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Inspection activities

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Inspection activities

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Inspection activities

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Inspection activities

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